BASF will significantly expand its presence in the Middle East region by building a state-of-the-art plant for customer specific antioxidant blends (CSB) in Bahrain. CSBs are key additives for the production of polymers for the plastics industry, especially for the Middle East region. Construction of the new facility will start in September 2011. It will become one of the worldwide largest CSB plants with an annual capacity of about 16,000 metric tons. The new plant will be operational already end of 2012. Read more…

Aker Solutions has signed a contract with Endeavour Energy UK, a subsidiary of Endeavour International Corporation, to supply subsea umbilicals and associated equipment for the East Rochelle development project located offshore UK. The contract value is approximately NOK 83 million (USD 15 million). Read more…

As part of its continuing network investment to support growing demand for advanced mobile devices and applications, AT&T* today announced the activation of a new mobile broadband cell site in Dearborn that will enhance coverage for area residents and businesses in the area of West Warren and Schaefer Roads (East Dearborn). With mobile broadband speeds, AT&T customers can surf the Web, download files faster, and enjoy the very latest interactivemobile applications. Read more…

TELUS is delivering on its commitment to serve more communities in Manitoba by turning on two new cell towers in Oakbank and Dugald and upgrading 42 existing wireless sites in and around Winnipeg to offer increased network capacity. Read more…

S&C Electric Company, a global leader in smart grids and renewable energy integration, today announces that it was awarded a contract to provide its single-inverter PureWave DSTATCOM(R) Distributed Static Compensator for a small wind energy project in the Orkney Islands. The Thorkell project, under development by Orkney Sustainable Energy, will bring an additional 900 kW of wind power online, expanding the base of renewable energy already installed in the islands. Read more…

Constellation Energy (NYSE: CEG) held a ribbon cutting ceremony on July 19 for its Criterion Wind Project in Oakland. Local business and community leaders and landowners were on hand for the dedication, as was Maryland Del. Wendell Beitzel and W. Kevin Hughes, Gov. Martin O’Malley’s deputy legislative officer. Read more…

In June 2011, SSE (Scottish and Southern Energy plc) agreed to sell its 50% interest (36MW) in the Braes of Doune onshore wind farm to a fund managed by Climate Change Capital, subject to completion of the remaining steps in the process. Due to financial market conditions, Climate Change Capital has decided to postpone its associated fund raising and so the asset will not be sold to the fund. Read more…

San Juan Water District flipped on the ceremonial switch to a newly completed, high efficiency solar power system from SunPower Corp. (NASDAQ: SPWRA, SPWRB) to supply up to 90 percent of the electricity consumed by their water treatment plant, booster pump station and administration buildings and save nearly $12 million in energy costs over the 25-year life of the system.* Read more…

Wales’ first full scale tidal stream energy generator will be deployed in 2012, having secured £6.4m support from the European Regional Development Fund through the Welsh Government. First Minister Carwyn Jones announced the funding for Tidal Energy Ltd’s 1.2MW DeltaStream device yesterday on a visit to Pembrokeshire’s Ramsey Sound, the site consented for the demonstration project by the Welsh Government and the Department of Energy and Climate Change earlier this year.

In total, Tidal Energy Ltd has secured £11m to manufacture and deploy the DeltaStream device, the balance being provided by majority shareholder Eco2 Ltd. Cranfield University, who for the past 3 years have provided specialist design support to the project, will continue their research and development work and will also play a role in the deployment of the prototype, overseeing condition monitoring and the performance of the device.

Invented by Pembrokeshire engineer Richard Ayre, DeltaStream sits on the sea bed without the need for a positive anchoring system. It generates electricity from three separate horizontal axis turbines mounted on a common frame. The device – which will provide a sustainable source of electricity to homes in the city of St Davids during its 12 month demonstration period – has been designed to be easily installed and maintained, with minimal impact on the environment.

In its 2010 Low Carbon Energy Policy Statement, the Welsh Government suggested that the deployment of tidal and wave devices off the nation’s 1200km coastline could provide as much as 4GW of clean, predictable electricity, with the ambition of this being installed by 2025.

Announcing the funding, the First Minister said: “Investing in renewable energy technologies is vital to build a low carbon economy and help drive forward Wales’ ambitions to become a more sustainable nation. We are committed to promoting the generation of clean electricity while protecting our natural environment.

“There is huge potential for marine energy in Wales and projects like DeltaStream will not only help meet our energy targets, but will provide further opportunities for local communities as well as businesses, creating both environmental and economic benefits.”

First Wind, an independent U.S.-based wind energy company, today commemorated the completion of the company’s 60 Megawatt (MW) Rollins Wind project in Penobscot County, Maine. Local officials and members of the community joined company representatives for a ribbon-cutting event and celebratory barbecue lunch. Read more…